Archive for the ‘business’ Category

If you’re one of the unfortunate people who find themselves with a cubby-hole filled with papers and slips of recorded mileage, this new little gadget is for you. The GPS Log Book provides you with a convenient, hassle-free way of logging your mileage for the dreaded tax returns data.

Simple as 1 2 3…

Simply plug the Log Book into your vehicles’ cigarette lighter sockets and you’re ready to go. This device switches on and off with your car, so no need to push a button! This innovative piece of technology uses GPS satellites to track your movement. It’s even possible to merge trips and program your device to areas in which you find yourself travelling often.

Tax Shmax

All information is stored on Log Books’ servers. However, keep a personal record on your laptop month to month, by using the provided USB cable. When submitting data for your tax return, Log Books’ website can automatically generate a South African Revenue Complaint Book at a click of a button.

So save yourself and your car the hassle of storing slips and manual log books, and get yourself this handy gadget either on logbooks website or at your nearest Tiger Wheel and Tyre store.

Many of us are users of this unique and fun photo app. Instagram took the world by storm with their innovative use of photo social media. From filters to #hashtags, the impact Instagram has left on society is enormous. Take a snapshot of your meals, add a filter and become the next Terry Richardson.

Many businesses have made full use of this free application by incorporating marketing and advertising strategies through this fun and free app. Well, here come the conglomerates with their proverbial pin to burst your bubble.

Emily White, the Instagram head at Facebook is already looking for potential advertisers to sign on. Although Kevin Systrom, Co-Founder of Instagram has the final say, White is working with him very closely to rake in the extra dollars through advertising revenue. Instagram has an impressive growth speed. With over 150 million users, 50 million new users in the past 6 months, this growth speed and potential is the hook to which potential advertisers will be caught. White goes on to mention in her interview with the Wall Street Journal that they would like to see this development beginning within the year. Ads will be published under the “Discover/ Explore’ tabs where users see what’s currently trending. The Instagram ads will act as clickable links to the respective direct sites. This hosts a slight issue with White, as she is concerned about the quality of most mobile sites.

Nevertheless, Instagram ads are happening. Keep an eye out and watch the rich get richer.

Facebook has announced a major revamp on their advertising systems to assist with the prevention of offensive content. There will now be new restrictions on where the dedicated advert will appear on the social media network.

Companies like Marks and Spencer and BSkyB suspended their advertising after complaints about their adverts being placed on pages with offensive material. As a result, Facebook are planning to remove any advertising from many of its pages.

Facebook said, “We recognize we need to do more to prevent situations where ads are displayed alongside controversial Pages and Groups. So we are taking action.”

The social network has decided to implement new processes to determine which pages should feature adverts alongside the content. Adverts will not have any violent, graphic or sexual content, even if this content is not in violation of the specified company’s rules.

It is said that Facebook will create a “gold standard” of approximately 10,000 pages that are suitable for adverts, and then inspect other pages to be added to this list. For now, all adverts will be removed from other pages.

Companies that have been victims to offensive advertising have said that they would be glad to use Facebook again, provided that their advertising would not appear alongside offensive content, or material that would potentially harm their brand.

The famous and most popular medium of engaging with consumers is via Facebook. When using this platform to market your business online, as well as connect with current and prospective customers, your fans become critical to your success.

But not all Facebook fans are the same. Understanding the different types of fans is vital in order to engage with them on the right level.

Take a look at seven common types of Facebook fans, how and why they connect with businesses and what they mean to you.

#1: The Quiet Follower

This fan likes your page to see updates on your brand, but doesn’t actively engage in posts and rarely comments on your content. It is a good idea to try and generate engagement from these fans by testing what, when and how you post content. Ask fans to “like” a status update or a photo and experiment with contests. Getting silent fans to engage with your posts will show up in their News Feeds, exposing your brand to a new bunch of potential fans.

#2: The Casual Liker

This fan liked your business on Facebook because they enjoy the content that you share. Get more out of the “liker” by adding strong calls to action on your posts and getting them to share your content as much as possible. With a bit of luck, these “likers” might just end up being your Facebook brand ambassadors.

#3: The Deal Seeker

Everyone loves free stuff, but this fan takes deals to the next level. Access to exclusive deals, coupons, incentives and events draw this fan to your page. Weekly or monthly deals work fabulously with these fans, as it gives them an interest in actively following your brand. This will increase the engagement from fans on your page and increase your following drastically.

#4: The Unhappy Customer

More and more people are using Facebook to communicate complaints about a brand and share it with others. They are often looking for a timely response and better customer service. The key is to get a reputation management process in place to track down these complaints and respond quickly. This shows that you are listening to your fans and you care, as well as put them first.

#5: The Ranter

Chances are, this fan only likes your page to have an opinion on a controversial topic from a status update. Most of the time, the ranting has nothing to do with your brand. Political, ideological, culture or personal issues are what trigger threads that can cast your business in a negative light. To help protect your brand from critics, avoid making controversial public statements unless you’re prepared for the backlash.

#6: The Cheerleader

This is possibly the ultimate fan to have. They love engaging with your brand, from liking posts to commenting and sharing them, they spread the word about your business to their networks, and add personality to your page. So, the idea is to do the same for them. Add campaigns like “Fan of the Week” to your page, and share their user-generated content. Ask them to participate in promotions and campaigns for your business.

#7: The Loyal Fan

If this fan had to walk into your business today, you would know them by name. They have been a loyal fan way before Facebook and have generated word-of-mouth marketing and sent referrals to your business. Include them in your Facebook engagement by asking them to be in a video testimonial. Share your appreciation for their long-term business through a loyalty program.

Google has launched Project Loon, an innovation that is said to, if it works, set hundreds, even thousands of high pressure balloons circling the earth to provide Internet to the world’s 5 billion unconnected souls.

This is said to give the population an enriched life with vital news, educational materials, lifesaving health information and fantastic global visuals on the world-wide-web.

As Google holds a press conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, they will also stage Project Loon’s biggest trial yet – 50 testers in Christchurch within the 12 mile range of the balloons will see if they can get connected from the sky.

Project Loon began 2 years ago, with the goal being to provide reliable Internet access using balloons. This idea was said to be crazy at first, with a number of obvious problems, many of them involving the limitations of ballooning itself.

The idea of “variable buoyancy” had come to pass by Rich DeVaul, an expert in wearable technology, with altitude allowed to be tweaked to find wind currents travelling in the right direction. This would accurately simulate wind currents in the stratosphere.

Finally, the project was pitched. DeVaul began a series of trial runs in California, and setup of a team of experts in energy, technology and engineering to name a few. With the help of Raven Aerostar, the company that makes weather balloons for NASA, Project Loon started to take shape.

When the balloon is launched, it is not fully inflated. As it rises, the air pressure difference expands the balloon at its float altitude is around 20km, twice the altitude of commercial airlines. At this height, the balloon will soar over the weather.

“Two years ago, this idea was just scribbles on a whiteboard,” DeVaul says. “The next part is seeing how the world reacts to this.”

Project Loon still has plenty hurdles to overcome. But for now, DeVaul is out of reasons to kill his project.

Don’t have the words? You don’t need them. Facebook is now offering its 1.1 billion users the chance to comment on a friend’s photo using an image.

This feature was released yesterday, and allows users to add photos to comment threads using a new “Attach a Photo” button.

Facebook has announced that to start off, uploads of photo comments will be restricted to the Facebook website and mobile site, but viewing photo comments will be available via Facebook’s mobile applications.

Photo comments are a feature that was released because “sometimes showing a photo helps [users] tell a story much better than words alone”, said Bob Baldwin, one of the developers behind the release of this feature. Photo comments are a product of one of Facebook’s famous hackathons as users respond better to images than text on this massively successful social media platform.

This new addition to the Facebook platform could well transform the social network into a more meme and teen-friendly zone, adding a more playful side to comments. It’s important to note that there is also potential for spam, abuse and ugly comment threads – but Baldwin is wishing for the best. “I hope this will make threads with friends more expressive and engaging,” he said.

The new Google algorithm clearly shows that content is king. However keyword-stuffing days are over. Natural content written for humans is one of the numerous ways in which Google will consider your website relevant. Unique and quality information that serves a purpose is the number one factor taken into consideration.

The Functions of SEO Copywriting

SEO copywriting serves two functions. The first one being, relevant keywords that allow search engines to index the website. It must also contain content that encourages users to read the copy.

Websites must have value to offer visitors. Content needs to interest the user enough to read through what your website has to offer so that they enquire or buy something on it, improving your website conversion rate. Not to forget – this also increases repeat visits. Users who find relevant information on your site are sure to return to it as long as you keep your information fresh and provide value to them.

How SEO Copywriting Benefits Websites

It places keywords correctly so that the search engine ranks your website.The key is to get your website to the first page of Google as statistics show that very few users click to the second page of a search engine.

It offers valuable content to website visitors. Google loves websites that encourage a lengthily time on site. The theory links back to good content keeping visitors interested in your website now, and in the long term. Remember bad content encourages visitors to leave, hence a high bounce rate.

Good content makes people want to share it. Having social signals on your blog or articles page, gives browsers the opportunity to share content to their social media platforms. When this content is shared, not only does it increase traffic to your site, Google also considers you to be relevant, hence improving your organic ranking.

SEO Copywriting and Social Media

Remember that SEO Copywriting is not confined to article writing. It also includes blogs and social media. There is no reason to miss opportunities to drive traffic to your website, so make sure you make use of social media platforms to increase visits to your site. Users spend a significant time on social media sites – so take advantage of this.

Be sure to have content written the correct way from an SEO perspective. Keep an eye on algorithms that are constantly changing and take advantage of any opportunity that’s out there to increase traffic to your site.

Google is said to be launching Google Web Designer, an HTML5 development tool for creative professionals. It will be aimed at users who have relied on Flash for banners, widgets and even entire sites.

The service will launch in “the coming months” and is designed to “empower creative professionals to create cutting-edge advertising as well as engaging web content like sites and applications – for free.”

Google shared the news in a side note in a blog post about its DoubleClick advertising platform this morning, hence the emphasis on ads. Web Designer is said to be a stand-alone product that will be aimed at creative agencies and designers.

“To help advertisers and publishers more seamlessly unlock the potential of cross-device programs, we are investing in a new HTML5 creative development tool – Google Web Designer,” Google explained.

Google’s only service for creating websites currently is Google Sites, allowing users to create basic sites from pre-built templates. Web Designer is expected to be a more sophisticated replacement for Sites’ editor.

Even if the tool is developed to be aimed at advertisers, it could be an interesting product. Its output could be integrated into any existing website or web app.

Sony Mobile has launched its new tablet in South Africa. The company is looking to capitalise in the hype of the Xperia Z smartphone.

Xperia Tablet Z Specs

The Xperia Tablet Z has a 25.6cm display and is powered by a 1.5Ghz quad core processor. that puts it near the top in terms of mobile device performance.

It has an 8 megapixel main camera with 2 megapixel front facing camera. The tablet also records video in Sony’s “Exmor R for mobile” format.

With Sony being famous for their ability to produce state of the art sound, it is no surprise that this tablet hosts four built-in speakers.

The tablet is NFC-enabled, allowing multimedia content to be shared with peripherals. It also has 16GBs of storage and a microSD slot.

One of the main selling points of this Android-powered tablet is that it is water resistant to 1m depth for 30 minutes.

The functionality of the tablet has been expanded so it can be used as a TV remote.

User Experience

Although the Tablet Z specifications are remarkable to say the least, Sony has announced that they would like to focus on the user experience rather than the hardware of this device. The unit was built with a mindset of entertaining the user.

Launch Date and Pricing

The Xperia Tablet Z is expected to be available at the beginning of July with an estimated retail price of between R7,000 and R10,000.